Against Eagles: Do you want the ball first?

[peplaw06]

I may be mistaken... I'm not looking at a rule book. But can't you defer to the second half if you win the toss? Essentially choose to decide in the 2nd half what you will do. Then the loser of the original toss typically will choose to receive in the first half, so they're not kicking off both halves.

 

[jlust22]

I may be mistaken... I'm not looking at a rule book. But can't you defer to the second half if you win the toss? Essentially choose to decide in the 2nd half what you will do. Then the loser of the original toss typically will choose to receive in the first half, so they're not kicking off both halves.

Only in college can you defer until the 2nd half. That rule doesn't apply to the pro's. College coaches on the whole seem to prefer to defer until the second half because they like that 1st possession of the 2nd half.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

At first I thought you were crazy and that the team that kicks off in the first, receives in the third, but you're right. Here are the rules from

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/cointoss

Digest of Rules

Coin Toss
1. The toss of coin will take place within three minutes of kickoff in center of field. The toss will be called by the visiting captain before the coin is flipped. The winner may choose one of two privileges and the loser gets the other:

(a) Receive or kick

(b) Goal his team will defend

2. Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the officials of their respective choices. The loser of the original coin toss gets first choice.

I don't know where these rules come from, but the NFL has NEVER ruled by them!
As far as the kickoff, I would want the ball. Last year in Dallas, we had the ball first, took it to them in a 2-minute type offense, and never looked back. I would want to take the crowd out of it right away. I would also want to put McNabb in a 'catchup' mode to put more pressure on him. Then, we can pin our ears back & sack him a dozen times.

 

[WV Cowboy]

That being said, if we win the coin toss, do you want to kick or receive?

If you can't defer in the pros, then you would have to be brain dead to kick to start the game, since the other team would choose to receive the 2nd half KO and you would wind up kicking both halves.

I would not mind if Philly wins the toss though and elects to receive, since this will probably be a field position game, and we could start with the ball down in their end.

Plus we would get the ball to start the second half which I like.

 

[peplaw06]

Only in college can you defer until the 2nd half. That rule doesn't apply to the pro's. College coaches on the whole seem to prefer to defer until the second half because they like that 1st possession of the 2nd half.

So then in the pros the only coin toss you should "want" to win (assuming in most instances you want to decide in the second half)... is the OT toss? Seems odd

 

[Gordon]

This can't be right, can it? Has anyone ever seen a game where the same team received the ball to start both halves? Maybe this only applies to the goal they are defending, because the same team possibly receiving both opening kickoffs seems totally unfair.

I've seen it once in person. I believe it was Giants/Cards, the game Bill Grammatica tore his ACL celebrating a chip shot FG (Pat Tillman did kick-offs the rest of the game).

The Cardinals got the ball in both halves because I believe it was pretty windy and the Giants chose a side rather than to kick or return. That's why I thought the rule only applied when someone chose a side.

 

[AdamJT13]

I've seen it once in person. I believe it was Giants/Cards, the game Bill Grammatica tore his ACL celebrating a chip shot FG (Pat Tillman did kick-offs the rest of the game).

The Cardinals got the ball in both halves because I believe it was pretty windy and the Giants chose a side rather than to kick or return. That's why I thought the rule only applied when someone chose a side.

Cha-ching!

Great memory, Gordon. The Giants won the opening toss and used their choice to defend the East goal. So they kicked off to start the game. In the second half, the Cardinals used their choice to get the ball. The Giants again chose to defend the East goal.




Arizona Cardinals vs New York Giants at Giants Stadium
12/15/01
1st Quarter
NYG wins toss, elects to defend the East goal, and ARZ Receive.
O. Pochman kicks 63 yards from NYG 30 to ARZ 7. M.Jenkins to ARZ 25 for 18 yards (T. Davis). FUMBLES (T. Davis), recovered
by ARZ-S.Sanyika at ARZ 25. S.Sanyika to ARZ 25 for no gain (K.Lewis).

3rd Quarter
ARZ elects to Receive, and NYG elects to defend the East goal.
O. Pochman kicks 59 yards from NYG 30 to ARZ 11. M.Jenkins to NYG 46 for 43 yards (O. Pochman).
PENALTY on ARZ-S.Sanyika, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at ARZ 34.

 

[jackrussell]

Receive.

1. Objective to score first.

2. If not score, establish field possession.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Receive.

1. Objective to score first.

2. If not score, establish field possession.

Or throw a pick and GIVE the other team field position and momentum. (see Titans game)